The Marriage Card Game is played between two to five players. A set of 52 cards is dealt with, with each player being dealt 13. There are four in each of the usual suits: Heart, Diamond, Club, and Spade. The game begins with a single Joker card.

The cards are dealt in order, with the first dealer always being dealt first. A card may be used to complete a sequence if it is of the same suit and is in the last position in the sequence, or if it is of a different suit and is in the first or last position in the sequence.